Drug abuse up among children
Drug abuse up among children
MANADO, North Sulawesi: Increasing drug abuse now includes children as young as seven years old, according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).
BNN Head Insp. Gen. Togar Sianipar said on Sunday that it was found that several elementary school students, aged seven in North Sulawesi had been arrested by police for drug abuse.
"Parents must be aware of the latest developments in drug trafficking. Don't wait until kids become victims," Togar said at an anti-drug workshop in Manado, North Sulawesi on Sunday.
According to Togar, at least 7,000 junior high school students and 10,000 high school students nationwide had been identified as drug abusers.
He also said that any police officer, prosecutor or other law enforcer involved in drug trafficking would be punished, and might even be dismissed from their positions. --Antara
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Police told not to overact
BANDUNG, West Java: National Police Chief General Da'i Bachtiar advised police officers on Saturday not to overact when being filmed by television crews during operations against criminals.
He also warned them against unlawfully exposing suspected criminals who have been captured, beating them up during operations or being filmed while firing their weapons.
"If you know of officers who have done these things, please tell me. Take note of the police unit they come from," Da'i said when giving directives to officers at the West Java regional police headquarters in Bandung.
He said he gave the warning so that no police officers ignored operational procedures. He said he hated seeing his men on television violating operational procedures when trying to capture crime suspects.
Several television stations now regularly broadcast the popular programs that show police raids against suspects.
Da'i advised police chiefs at every level to immediately remind their men that while informing the public about any success in their anti-crime operations, they should remain level- headed and not show the violent aspect of such operations. --Antara
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Akbar eyes presidential run
SURABAYA: Akbar Tandjung, the embattled chairman of Golkar Party, said on Sunday that he would only run for president if he had accomplished certain things.
He said that he first had to win the corruption case (Buloggate) against him that was currently being examined by the Supreme Court, then had to secure a victory for Golkar in the legislative elections in 2004 thereby placing as many Golkar rank and file members as possible at regional legislatures (DPRDs) and the House of Representatives (DPR).
A high profile corruption case involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) remains a strong legal stumbling block for Akbar and Golkar.
"Pray for me so that I will be acquitted by the Supreme Court (so that I can run for presidency)," Akbar told his supporters in Surabaya.
Akbar was sentenced to three years in jail by the Central Jakarta district court, the verdict was upheld by the Jakarta High court for his role in a Rp 40 billion corruption case better known as Buloggate. He remains free pending appeal to the Supreme Court.
Golkar will start selecting its presidential nominees in June this year, and will finally decide on its presidential candidate by February next year to contest the country's first ever direct presidential election due to take place between June and August 2004 after the legislative elections which could take place as early as April 2004. --Antara
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Labor agencies told to train recruits
MEDAN, North Sumatra: Manpower and Transmigration Minister Jacob Nuwa Wea said labor recruitment agencies should be required to train recruits before dispatching them abroad.
"Indonesians seeking employment abroad must have specific skills. That is why I ask each labor recruitment agency to enter recruits into training courses," he said after opening a coordination meeting of the provincial branches of the All- Indonesia Labor Union (SPSI) here on Saturday.
In addition to technical know-how, labor recruitment agencies must also provide recruits with foreign language skills, particularly English, he said.
The ministry this month issued licenses to 62 labor recruitment agencies to send workers to the Middle East.
The licenses were issued to the labor recruitment agencies based on certain criteria, such as owning a dormitory to accommodate departing workers and a language laboratory. --Antara